"I recall many a math professor telling me how useful math would be if I wanted to teach, but no one pointed out that 'solving math word problems' was actually a profession."

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John Lovell

Born in Cardiff, UK
Graduated High School with five "A" levels

B.S. Mathematics

Oxford University, 1982

M.S. Mathematics

Cornell University, US,1983

M.S. Mathematics

Oxford University, UK, 1984

Ph.D. Electrical Engineering

Delft University, Netherlands, 1993

I first started reading calculus books when I was around eleven, mostly because I was an annoying brat trying to appear better at math than my (elder) brother. Nonetheless, this turned out to have been a great idea because it meant that I then mostly sailed through high-school science classes without ever having to study much and could spend my time on more age-appropriate social activities.

Even so, it never occurred to me that you could get paid to do calculus. I recall many a math professor telling me how useful math would be if I wanted to teach, but no one pointed out that "solving math word problems" was actually a profession. One of the things that astonished me when I heard of Schlumberger was that it was possible to get a job doing just mathematics.

I came over to America to get a Masters degree in mathematics (topology) from Cornell and, because of a fluke in the British educational system, I got one from Oxford too. After Cornell, I taught at a nearby liberal arts college before starting at the Schlumberger-Doll Research Center in Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1984 to write computer codes for electromagnetic tools. While working there, I was also able to start a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Delft University in Holland -- my professor would fly over from Holland to spend time at Schlumberger. We called it the "Hans over America" program. I finally got the degree in 1993 and soon thereafter transferred to Schlumberger’s Sugar Land Product Center to work on finite-element modeling of Logging While Drilling tools, and resistivity imaging tools in particular.

One of the great things about Schlumberger is the opportunity to develop non-traditional career paths: from being a liberal-arts math professor, to being hired as a computer programmer, to getting a Ph.D., to transferring to Engineering, and then to my most recent job: Marketing!! I am currently the Measurements Marketing Manager for Anadrill where I analyze market trends in order to optimize development of new tools and design marketing campaigns for their worldwide introduction to the oilfield.

My main social activity outside of Schlumberger is running through the swamps and fields of Connecticut (and now Texas) in pursuit of a bedraggled 'Hare' carrying flour and beer - a worldwide phenomenon known as Hashing.